,Happy Halloween! Yes I am Waaay late this year, but here it is All Hallow’s Eve and I finally have a minute to get this post up 🙂 Things are still in progress at the new house and with the state of things we are not entertaining this year so our Halloween decor is a bit simpler than in years past but I LOVE HALLOWEEN, so even if it’s just for the 2 of us I had to do it. If you’ve been following my blog for awhile you’ll recognize many of the same decorations from our last 2 houses just used in new ways. The one new thing I added this year is the pair of black skeleton torsos with golden hearts (DIY below) inspired by similar pieces spied on Tik Tok. But first, this year’s house decor!
The Front Courtyard Entry.
Lots of mums and pumpkins! Mostly from Trader Joe’s and Home Depot. The dogs we’ve had for a few years now (a post-Halloween sale find). I put strings of orange lights in the rib cages. The best part is I can easily transition to Fall by taking away the dogs, black fabric and skeletons.
And lastly, the Stylish Black Skeleton DIY
These were very easy. I bought 2 very cheap plastic skeletons, removed the limbs (I painted the arms black and used them on the mantle, the unpainted legs are tucked among the plants lining the driveway with other assorted old skeleton parts), spray painted them black using a gloss plastic spray paint (Home Depot). I bought 2 plastic anatomical hearts on Amazon and spray painted them shiny gold. These hearts I hot glued inside the rib cages. I then added a twist of wire on the back and hung them on the doors on removable sticky hooks.
Until next year! Planning to go really big 🙂 Please follow this blog for more decorating inspiration!
First I created a base by wrapping the book with the brown paper. I used ModgePodge mixed with 50% water (white glue in the same proportion would work fine). I brushed it on the book to help hold the paper, then wrapped the paper and taped on the inside.
For the next layer I soaked the brown paper in the 50/50 solution, crunched it up to wrinkle it and give it texture, then added it to the front cover. I wrinkled it up around the edges to give it the right look.
Next I mixed up the Celluclay. It is basically paper pulp used for sculpting. It is easy to use, mixes with water and dries hard and ready to sand, paint, or add to. In this case I used the 50/50 solution, as I had extra, and it worked great.
I formed the chunky bits with my fingers and spread the Celluclay on the cover, looking at my reference photo for guidance. I used a chopstick and flat screwdriver to press and gouge.
At this point I let it dry till the next day when it was ready to paint. I could have sanded it a bit to smooth it out but this was good enough for me 🙂 I let it dry overnight.
I used acrylic paints, starting with a dark layer to give depth in the deeper areas.
I used it watery then dabbed off the excess with a rag.
Next came the more flesh-toned layer. I mixed my own but you could easily just buy an appropriate flesh-tone paint. This is brushed on a bit more lightly, and watery. I again dabbed up the excess with a rag.
The final paint layer is light highlights. I used white mixed with the flesh-tone, fairly watery, and lightly brushed it across the highest parts, again dabbing off with a rag to blend and get up the excess.
My very own Necronomicon! Ashy Slashy would be proud 🙂
The table, center of it all, is where I usually put the most attention. This year I added a 
I kept the kitchen bar counter more simple and elegant this year, to go with the table decor.
I still love these little monster portraits I added a plastic spider to cover the pin in the wall. (Artwork by 
I love these creepy little ceramic 
Our old black skeleton has seen better days, but is still having a ball sitting on top of our antique wood stove. He’s sitting in a bit of a forest thanks to an early freeze here in Salt Lake (I had to bring the plants in early this year). (Link to the garland DIY 
Even my desk gets a bit of spirit.
These shiny paper 
The garden window in the kitchen gets a little touch of Halloween.
My beloved Victorian Halloween collection (all reproductions collected over the years) adorn the side table in the dining room with a couple of framed Monster prints (art by 
the Year of Living Fabulously 